Threat Assesment

Posted on Mon Oct 12th, 2026 @ 10:44am by Lieutenant Colonel Azhul Naxea & Captain Samuel Woolheater

Mission: Season 6 - Episode 8- The Price of Home
Location: LtCol. Azhul's Office - Marine Detachment - Deck 32
Timeline: That afternoon
1098 words - 2.2 OF Standard Post Measure

[ON:]

[[ Marine Country - Colonel Azhul's Office ]]

Captain Woolheater stopped outside the Colonel's office and thumbed the annunciator. He had a PaDD tucked beneath one arm, although there wasn't much on it she hadn't already seen. Threat assessments. Security reports. Intelligence summaries. Enough possibilities to keep half the ship busy and, so far, not nearly enough answers. That was the problem. When the door opened, Sam stepped inside.

"Colonel. You got a few minutes?"

He waited until she acknowledged him before moving farther into the office. "I've been going through the threat assessments for Zyphera Prime." He held up the PaDD slightly. "We've got plenty of things we're supposed to be watching for. What we don't have is much visibility before one of them turns into somebody shooting at us. Or, worse, the Erebus and the thing isn't even off the blueprints yet." Sam took the chair across from her desk.

"I've met with Commander Rin. I wanted to get her read on the situation we're looking at, just in case there was something I'm not seeing or taking for granted." He settled back slightly. "We came up with an idea about embedding an Intel operator with one of the fire teams."

"While I appreciate your enthusiasm, but for future reference, I would prefer you go through me next time before going to Commander Rin," Naxea began, warning of the breach of protocol. "What would be the goal of this Intel operator?"

Sam was quiet for a long moment. Long enough that the faint rattle of a loose filter in the air duct became noticeable beneath the rush of circulating air. He looked at Naxea, then finally gave a single nod. "Nothing's been committed. I sought ideas from an Intel expert. Commander Rin and I were kicking around ideas, not making decisions. This is your command. That's why I'm bringing the proposal to you."

He shifted the PaDD on his knee and met her eyes. "If you approve it...the goal is to embed someone from Intel with a fire team who can recognize things we might not. People, technology, indicators tied to the threat picture. We get Intel eyes on the ground, and Rin gets information while it's still useful instead of six hours later in an AAR."

"So, these Intel agents have detailed knowledge of all tools used by Circincus Species that could be used as weapons? Or is there a detailed list already of banned technology?". Naxea wasn't being cynical but rather thorough in what details Intelligence had.

Woolheater responded, "I'm not sure what Commander Rin or what any Intel officer knows, to speak plainly about it, Colonel. I would say Commander Rin knows enough of the threat potential that she's willing to commit at least one of her assets to walk the front line with us - or to back up Security, if that's your call." He paused. "Marines recognize tactical threats. Intelligence recognizes intelligence indicators."

"I see. And yet, there are no clues to what these indicators would be? I'm not really seeing an advantage in this situation with species we don't know very well." Naxea paused for a moment before continuing. "I appreciate the offer to help but other than an extra set of eyes, what are these intelligence agents bringing with them?"

"What I see isn't just another set of eyes, Colonel. It's a second discipline. Different from ours. Different way of thinking." Sam leaned forward slightly. "We don't know these species very well. That's exactly the problem. We've been fighting so long out here, I think sometimes we expect to see trouble and we find it. We expect a battlefield and by Gar we find it."

He paused.

"This... Erebus. If it works, it's a chance to go home. Home's looking pretty good right now. Let's not blow that chance by guessing. Any advantage we can get early, I say we explore it."

He gestured as he spoke, talking with his hands. "We're trained to look at a crowd and identify tactical threats. Fields of fire. Concealed weapons. Choke points. Somebody moving like they're preparing an attack. Put a good Intelligence officer beside us and ask what they see? Maybe something different. Relationships. Surveillance. Technology. Behavior that doesn't fit. Something that connects what we're seeing on the ground to information Intelligence already has."

Sam moved lightly with the PaDD, then settled back.

"Okay. Maybe they see nothing. That's possible. But I'd rather put two different disciplines on a problem we don't understand than assume one is enough. I think the fact that we don't know what we're looking for is the strongest argument for putting an Intel asset on the line with us." He paused.

"If not with us, then with Richardson's Security detail. Eyes on the problem before there's a problem."

Naxea was silent for a moment. It was true that they didn't have Marines trained in Intel gathering, save for herself and Master Sergeant Gami due to their Raider background and training. The only other Marines trained in Intel gathering had been her SF Platoon--1st Platoon, that had effectively been eliminated during their year in the Circincus Galaxy. They had been the top of the spear and been the tip of the spear in every engagement...until they weren't. That thought threatened to rip open that wound that had been festering with anger and sadness. Retaining a professional front, she slowly nodded, recalling Rin's idea of using Intel agents as reserve Marines. "Very well. Make it happen."

For a moment, Sam didn't move. He'd expected another question. An objection, maybe. Something. Instead, the decision had arrived with a finality that made it clear there was nothing more to discuss.

"Aye, Colonel."

He rose after a moment and slipped the PaDD beneath his left arm. "I'll coordinate with Rin and Richardson and get it set up."

It was silent again, quiet enough that he could hear the air handler somewhere overhead.

Sam thought about asking how she was recovering. This was the first time he'd seen her since she'd been discharged from Medical and returned to the duty roster. The question made it as far as his lips.

He let it go.

Another moment passed, "Will that be all, Colonel?"

Naxea nodded. "Yes. And Captain. You're doing a good job," she grinned. She was impressed with how he had handled himself under scrutiny.

"Thank you, Colonel." There wasn't much more to say. He adjusted the PaDD beneath his arm and turned toward the door.

"Good afternoon, ma'am." With that, Woolheater stepped out into the corridor.

[OFF]